Pioneer work among the Bedouins in the Negev

Barnabas Israel Staff 11 maj 2019

Barnabas Israel in an NGO based in the Negev that provides humanitarian aid and educational support to Bedouin families from unrecognised villages. God is love, and we believe in LOVE as a verb, and its impact through actions is what drives our everyday tasks.

Barnabas Israel is part of a larger organisation called Barnabas Fellowship of Churches, based in the UK and established in over 10 countries around the world mainly planting churches.

For those who are less familiar with the Bedouin community is important to note that they are a minority within the Arab community, and they make 3,5 % of the total Israeli population. Previous to the formation of the State of Israel they lived in the Negev as semi-nomads. Around 3 decades ago the government encouraged Bedouins to relocate to 6 towns situated in the south, but many of them refused to do so. These are the so called unrecognised villages. They are spread throughout the Negev, and hardly have any basic services such as health care, electricity, drinking water and education. They are isolated from civilisation without being able to build any further and have very limited access to public transport. Many live in extreme poverty and do not feel a part of society.

They are mainly Sunni Muslims and very devoted. Their places of origin can vary from Egypt to Saudi Arabia.

Even though many of them are Israeli citizens, some come from the West Bank originally.

The local NGO’s main focus is on a specific tribe originating from Egypt that has settled in the Arad area.

The complexity and variety in the backgrounds, together with later interchange of marriages make it challenging to pinpoint an accurate origin to the tribes scattered in the Negev.

Around less than a decade ago, the door opened to establish a kindergarten amongst one of these families called Abu Juda. The message has been spreading ever since. It started off as a project geared towards children, but since 2013 it became a family oriented work through an extensive process of building trust and getting to know the families on a one to one level. Through doing so, we decided to focus on the pillars of the family: the women who are neglected and wounded. The pioneer work amongst them started through Hebrew, Arabic and English lessons.

Given their deprived intellectual development it is an ongoing challenge to share the Gospel with a people group that is bound by fear and constraint.

Since June 2017, we partner with a Christian humanitarian aid organisation delivering food to families, and miraculously we receive second hand clothes from all kinds of sources. The warehouse is located in the Artist Quarter in Arad.

Our work is a partnership with the local Congregation in Arad, who are “behind the scenes,” providing hands on support as well as prayer and encouragement.

Our women’s program has been running since 2013, where in the context of “Crafts making” they hear christian principles and get to learn and experience God’s Love.

In the afternoon, there is a children’s club where they receive assistance with their homework as most mothers are illiterate.

Barnabas believes it is highly important for this people group to come to the Lord, given the fact that the patriarchs of our faith were Bedouins. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were Bedouins as they are the were initial inhabitants of the Holy Land. Not only that, but also there are hardly any organisations that focus on reaching out to this people group in the area. Embarking on a pioneering venture is not always easy, as there are no parameters, formulas or people who have paved the way before us. There are no books written on how to reach this people group, so as we develop on a daily basis, it is somehow writing the pages of a new book.

Engaging with this minority group can be an extensive process, and that is when the Lord’s grace comes to live through the workers and the volunteers ability to do so.

Due to their primitive culture, they tend to be hostile and dubious towards newcomers, however we have witnessed through hardship and endurance that the team visiting can be the “event” of the week.

It is a joy to share that those who have met Lord through the work need to be in our prayers. As the body of the Messiah, we want to invite you to partner with the Holy Spirit in HIS love, passion and purpose for the salvation of this minority group.

It would be a joy for us to spend time with your community  sharing the breakthrough stories the Holy Spirit has performed:

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not.” – Luke 15:7

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries about the work. Also, we are open to visits and can expand on the details of our every-day work.

Find us at: barnabasisrael.org

Contact: contact@barnabasisraelteam.com

https://kehilanews.allisrael.com/pioneer-work-among-the-bedouins-in-the-negev